One meth lab, one storage facility

Police said it appeared to be part of large-scale operation.

Police said it appeared to be part of large-scale operation.

April 22, 2006|PABLO ROS Tribune Staff Writer

MISHAWAKA -- What police reported Tuesday to be the remnants of a second methamphetamine lab found in the city this week is instead a storage facility linked to a lab discovered Monday. Capt. Robert Hammer of the special operations unit of St. Joseph County said Thursday that a storage facility located on Grape Road contained numerous items used in the production of methamphetamine. Those items were allegedly used by Edward Johnson, 37, who rented the unit and allegedly manufactured the drug in a rental house where he lived with his children. Johnson was charged this week with several felony offenses, including neglect of a dependent, and is at the St. Joseph County Jail on $5,000 bail bond. He faces up to 29 years in prison. According to police, Johnson allegedly produced meth while renting a house on the 200 block of West 10th Street, where he lived since April 2004 with his two children, aged 15 and 6. The property owner told police that Johnson was evicted from the house in March for missing rent payments. Police reported the dozens of items seized from both locations point to what must have been a large-scale meth operation. Hammer said meth labs are discovered at all stages of development and this one was no longer functioning. Meth labs are uncommon in St. Joseph County, police said. Six of 1,500 found in the state last year were located in the county. That's because meth production is more common in rural areas, police said, and St. Joseph County is less rural than others.